Rain-signal.



A. F. W. VIEHWEGER'.

RAIN SIGNAL- APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25. 1916.

1,283,989. Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

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AUGUST F. W. VIEI-IWEGER, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

RAIN-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. .5, 1918.

Application filed October 25, 1916. Serial No. 127,680.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST F. W. VIEH- wnenn, a subject of th Emperor of Germany, residing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rain-Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved signal device operable by the falling of rain to give a warning signal.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rain signal embodying a novelly constructed casing formed entirely of a single piece of sheet metal.

Another object is the provision of a simple and efiicient rain operated leverprovided at one end with acup-shaped rain container, having an aperture therein through which the rain water escapes, subsequent to an operation of the lever.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a perspective vlew of the rain signal, illustrating the electrical circuit therefor diagrammatically,

Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the signal,

Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the easing, and

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, taken at right angles to Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 indicates generally the blank of sheet metal, or other suitable material, from which the casing is constructed. The base 6 is connected with the vertical side walls 7 and one end wall 8, which latter is formed integral with the top 9, which when properly bent overlies the base plate 6. The other end wall 10 is connected with an extension 11, having slots 12 therein and which overlies the extension 13 of the base plate 6. Tongues 14 are struck up from the extension 13, extended through the slots 12 and bent back upon the extension 11 to secure the casing in assembled position. The side walls 7 are provided with marginal flaps 15, which are turned inwardly against adjacent portions of the extension 13 and secured to the top and end walls. A pair of ears 16 are stamped up from the base plate 6 and support the pivot pin 17 upon which is pivotally mounted the depending cars 18 of a lever 19. One end of the lever 19 is enlarged and cup-shaped, as indicated at 20, and the portion of the top 9 overlying the cup 20 is formed with an aperture 21. A depression 22 is formed in the top 9 about the aperture 21 and is designed to conduct the rain-water therethrough. The bottom portion of the cup 20 is formed with a relatively small aperture 23, through which the rain-water slowly escapes and drips int the casing from which it is conducted through openings 24; formed in the side walls 7.

The opposite terminal 25 of the lever is ofiset and is adapted to engage a pair of angular contact members 26, which are electrically connected with binding posts 27 secured in the adjacent end wall of the casing and electrically connected with conductors 28 and 29. The opposite terminal of the conductor- 29 is connected with an electric bell, or other signal device 30, and the conductor 28 is connected with one pole of a battery or other source of electro-motive force 31, the opposite pole of which is connected with the signal device 30 by a conductor 32. A manually operable switch 33 is interposed in the connection between the battery 31 and the signal device 30, whereby the circuit to the latter may be broken when desired.

In its normal position, the ofi'set terminal 25 of the lever 19 is supported upon the base plate 6 in spaced relation to the contact members 26, thereby interrupting the circuit from the battery 31 to the signal device 30. However, during rain, the water is conducted to the aperture 21 by the depressed portion 22 f the casing and falling through the aperture 21 is deposited in the cup-shaped member 20, closing the latter and engaging the offset terminal 25 with the contact members 26, thereby completing circuit to the signal device 30 and actuating the latter. The water contained in the cup 20 slowly escapes through the aperture 23 therein and flows out of the casing through the outlet ports at. When the cup is empty constructed of a single piece o'f-sheetmetal having a depression in the upper portion thereof, and an aperture formed in the depressed portion, a pair of cars struck up from the bottom of the casing, a lever formed of a single piece of sheet metal having op positely disposed downwardly extending ears means pivotally supportingthe downwardly extending ears of the lever be tween the up struck ears of thecasing, said lever having an offset terminal normally supported upon the bottom of said casing, a pair of spaced contact members arranged in said casing and adapted to be engaged and electrically connected by the offset terminal of said lever, a cup-shaped member formed on the opposite end of said lever and disposed directly under the aperture in said casingfasin'id for the purpose specified. .7 a In testimony x'x' 'hereo'f I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST F; W. VIEHWEGER.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents' each, by addressing the Commissioner of Pltentl,

' Washington, D. 0. i 

